Ada Blackjack, named after a heroic Inuit woman, is a brand of handcrafted bags & leather goods by Yvonne Schippers. The minimal design range needed a fitting brand image, a task that the talented creative duo Verena Michelitsch and Tobias van Schneider overcame with ease and elegance. The timeless designs are an amazing representation of the Barcelona based brand – simple and chic, with a touch of tradition.
The brand’s slogan – Not all those who wander are lost, was inspired by an Inuit woman who was the heroic and sole survivor of a two-year expedition on the uninhabited Wrangel Island in northern Siberia back in 1923. Ada Blackjack stands for resilience, endurance, and bravery – three strong attributes the two designers had to take into account while creating the new visual image of the brand. Very fittingly to the story also both of the designers have freshly immigrated to New York, Michelitsch originating from Austria and Van Schneider from Germany.
The traditional materials and methods of the brand inspired the designers to use techniques such as letterpress and stamping, combined with ethnic illustrations and leather. The minimal earthy color scheme with geometric typography create a modern yet timeless visual than can stand for years to come. A great balance of strong imaginary and delicate details is achieved. Durable techniques and materials give the designs a more luxurious feel, with a handmade touch from the leather stamping. The way every detail is thoroughly thought out can be seen in the cohesiveness of the whole range from the lookbook and website layouts to labels and packaging finishes.
Photos © Verena Michelitsch